A nearly century-old lumber mill in North Carolina has been forced to close after China imposed massive retaliatory tariffs on American timber, a move that shows Beijing is willing to strike directly at small U.S. businesses to exert political pressure. The Jones family — long-time Republican voters — said the Chinese response was the direct reason they lost more than 80% of their export market in a very short time.
This development reinforces for many Trump supporters that he was right in claiming China has been exploiting international trade and that the U.S. must respond to end decades of imbalance. Analysts note that China’s targeting of export-dependent sectors underscores the necessity of the tough stance Trump emphasized.
Although the short-term damage is clear, many rural voters view it as a temporary price to prevent America from continuing to be squeezed by one-sided trade policies. The Jones family has managed to retain some workers at their second facility, showing efforts to remain resilient amid global economic turbulence. The incident continues to fuel debate over the need for Washington to protect the long-term U.S. economy and stop yielding to Beijing.
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